The 127 Hours and Slumdog Millionaire director is reportedly in talks with the King's Speech Oscar winner to take over the role Fassbender had to decline, due to "scheduling conflicts".

James McAvoy was in talks to star in the movie as Fassbender left the production, but Movies.ie reports that McAvoy was never contending to take Fassbender's role, but reading for a different part in the movie. Cinema Blend reports about the film being an "art heist thriller".

Scarlett Johansson is also in the running for a lead in the movie, contending with Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek) and French actress Mélanie Thierry (The Princess of Montpensier) for the part of 'Elizabeth'. IMDB gives the film a 2013 release date, with limited information available about the script or the cast.

Firth is currently shooting Gambit, a crime drama by the Coen Brothers.